appoynted he was brought out of the Tower with his armes bounde behynde him hauyng a verye cherefull countenaunce Than was he layed vpon an hardle as though he had bene a most heynouse traytour to the crowne and so drawne forth into saynct Gyles felde where as they had set vp a new payre of Galowes As he was comen to the place of execucyon and was taken from the hardle he fell downed enoughtlye vpon his knees desyerynge almyghtye God to forgeue his enemyes Than stode he vp and behelde the multytude exhortynge them in most godlye maner to folowe the lawes of God wrytten in the scripturs and in anye wyse to be ware of soche teachers as they se contrarye to Christ in theyr conuersacyn and lyuynge with manye other specyall counsels Than was he hanged vp there by the myddle in cheanes of yron and so consumed a lyue in the fyre praysynge the name of God so longe as his lyfe lasted In the ende he commended his sowle into the handes of God and so departed hens most Christenlye his bodye resolued into ashes And this was done in the yeare of our Lorde a. M. cccc and .xviii. which was the sixt yeare of the regne of kyng Henrye the fyft the people there present shewynge great dolour How the Prestes that tyme fared blasphemed and cursed requyrynge the people not to praye for him but to iudge him damned in hell for that he departed not in the obedyeÌ„ce of theyr Pope yt were to longe to wryte This terryble kynde of death with galowes cheanes and fyre apereth not verye precyouse in the eyes of menne that be carnall nomore than ded the death of Christ whan he was hanged vp amonge theues The ryghtuouse semeth to dye sayth the wyse manne in the syght of them which are vnwyse and theyr ende is taken for verye destruccyon Vngodlye foles thynketh theyr lyues verye madnesse and theyr passage hens without all honour But though they suffre payne before menne sayth he yet is theyr expectacyon full of immortalyte They are accounted for the chyldren of God haue theyr iust porcyon amonge the faynctes As golden in the fornace doth God trye his electes as a most plesaunt brent offerynge receyueth he them to rest The more harde the passage be the more gloryouse shall they apere in the lattre resurreccyon Not that the affliccyons of this lyfe are worthye of soche a glorye but that yt is Gods heauenlye pleasure so to rewarde them Neuer are the iudgementes and wayes of menne lyke vnto the iudgementes and wayes of God but coÌ„trarye euermore vnlesse they be taught of him In the latter tyme sayth the Lorde vnto Daniel shall manye be chosen proued and puryfyed by frye yet shall the vngodlye lyue wyckedlye styll and haue no vnderstandynge that is of fayth By an angell from heuen was Iohan ernestlye coÌ„maunded to wryte that blessed are y e dead which hence departeth in y e Lorde Ryght dere sayth Dauid in the syght of God is the death of his true seruauÌ„tes Thus resteth this valeaunt Christen knyght syr Iohan Oldecastell vndre the aultre of God which is Iesus Christ amonge that godlye companye which in the kyngedome of pacyeÌ„ce suffred great tribulacyon with y e death of theyr bodyes for his faythfull worde and testimonye abydynge there with them the fulfyllynge of theyr whole nombre the full restauricyon of his electes The which he graunt in effect at his tyme appoynted which is one God eternall Amen ☞ The conclusyon BEsydes the cause rehersed afore in the preface concernynge the dreadfull death of this most Christen knyght syr Iohan Olde castell the lorde Cobham this is also rekened for one In the ende of the fyrst boke which he put vp into the ParlemeÌ„t how se agaynst the abusyons of the clergyâ— in the yeare of oure Lordâ— a. M.CCC xcv which was also the .xviii. yeare of kynge Rycharde the seconde were these .vi. verses wrytten as a brefe conclusyon sommarye of the vnyuersall coÌ„tentes therof Plangunt Anglorum Gentes crimen Sodomorum Paulus fert horum sunt Idola causa malorum Surgunt ingrati Giezite Symone nati Nomine prelati hoc defensare parati Qui râ—ges estis populis quicunque preestis Qualiter 〈◊〉 gestis gladios prohibere potestis Though the verses be grosse and vnperfyght accordynge to the tyme than wherin all freshe lytterature was clerelye extynguyshed yet is the sentence of them lyuelye and of a freshe faythfull sprete euen in the zele of Helias and Phinees for rebuke of synne And thus are they in the Englyshe Bewayle maye Englande the synne of Sodomytes For Idolles and they are grounde of all theyr wo. Of Symon Magus a secte of hypocrytes Surnamed prelates are vp with them to go And to vpholde them in all that they maye do yow that be rewlers peculyarlye selected How can ye suffre soche myscheues vncorrected Vvhan this boke wolde not helpe towardes anye reformacyon but was law hed to scorne of the Bysshoppes than were these verses copyed out by dyuerse menne set vpon theyr wyndowes gates and dores which were than knoweÌ„ for obstynate hypocrytes and fleshlye lyuers which made y e prelates madde And this is y e great insurreccyon that Vvalden complayneth of vnto Pope Martyne the fyft after him Polydotus the Popes collectour with other papistes more wherin neuer a one manne was hurt I wolde maruele moche more of the doublenesse of Thomas Vvalden beynge than the kynges confessour yf I ded not knowe the vnshamefast nature of that lyenge generacyon In his fyrst Epistle vnto Pope Martyue in the fyrst Preface of his fourth boke contra Vvicleuistas he sayth that syr Iohan Olde castell with a great nombre of heretyques conspyred agaynst kynge Henrye the fyft in the fyrst yeare of his regne that he offered him for euerye monke chanon fryre and Popyshe Prestes head within his realme a golde noble And cleane contrarye vnto this he testyfyeth in his boke called Fasciculus zizaniorum Vvicleui that he was the same selfe tyme yeare moneth weke and daye a presoner within the Tower of London How wele these two wrytynges agre I report me But thus commonlye are innocent menne lyed vpon amonge these blasphemouse bessygoddes But he that is essencyallye true of himselfe hath promysed at one tyme or other to clere his true seruaunt not by lyes and fables but by his owne pure worde No secrete sayth he is so close but ones shall be opened neyther is anye thynge so hydde that shall not at the last be knowen clerelye Thus hath syr Iohan Oldecastell a tryumphauÌ„t victorye ouer his enemyes by the veryte which he defended all coÌ„trarye to the blynde worldes expectacyon they haue a fowle ouerthrowe beynge proued manyfest murtherers blynde beastes hypocrytes lyars by the same Soche a swete Lorde is God alwayes
godlye wyse Polydorus Vergilius a collectour somtyme in Englande of the Popes Peter Pens and afterwarde Archedeacon of Vvellys hath in this poynt deformed his wrytynges greatlye polutynge oure Englyshe chronycles most shamefullye with his Romyshe lyes and other Italyshe beggerye â–ª Battels hath he described there at large â—o no small discommendynges of some Princes w t were godlye but the preuye packynge of Prelates and craftye coÌ„ueyauÌ„ce of the spiritualte hath he in euery place almost full properly passed ouer He was to famylyar with the Bysshoppes and toke to moche of theyr counsell whan he compyled the .xxvi. bokes of his Englyshe hystorye And not greatly is the lande beholden vnto him in that worke for anye large prayse of erudicyon that he hath geuen it there A syngular bewtye is it to a Christen regyon whan theyr auncyent monumeÌ„tes are garnyshed amonge others with meÌ„ne of freshe lytterature which therin hath small remembrauÌ„ce or non Vnlesse it be Gildas Bedas Alcuinus Ioannes Scotus Aldelmus Neuburgus and one or two more non are in that whole worke mencyoned coÌ„cernyng that as though Englande had alwayes bene most barren of menne lerned This do I not wryte in dysprayse of his lernynge which I knowe to be verye excellent but for the abuse therof beynge a most syngular gyft of God I wolde wyshe some lerned Englyshe maÌ„ne as there are now most excellent fresh wyttes to set forth the Englyshe chronycles in theyr ryght shappe as certen other landes hath done afore them all affeccyoÌ„s set a part I can not thynke a more necessarye thynge to be laboured to the honour of God bewtye of the realme â—rudicyon of the people and commodite of other landes next the sacred scripture of the Byble than that worke wolde be For truly in those they haue there yet is vyce more anauÌ„ced than vertâ— Romyshe blasphemye than godlynesse As it maye full wele apere vnto eyes of ryght iudgement in y â— lamentable hystorye here folowynge and soche other which hath bene longe hydde in thâ— darke Marke dilygentlye the sentence of the seyd Polydorus concernynge this good lorde Cobham and there vpon consydre his good workemanshyp in other matters In the counsell of Constaunce sayth he was the heresye of Iohan Vvycleue condemned and two at the same tyme burned in that cyte which were y e chefe heades of that secte All this is true though the fâ—ate handelynge therof be altogyther Italyshe But where as he sayth after that whan this was ones knowen to theyr companyons in Englande they conspyred in theyr madnesse agaynst the whole clergye and fynallye agaynst the kynge also for that he was than a fawter of Christen relygyon hauynge to theyr great captaynes syr Iohan Oldecastell and syr Roger Acton he maketh a most shamefull lye For how coude syr Roger Acton with his coÌ„panye conspyre vpon that occasyon beynge dead more than iiii years afore and syr Iohan Oldecastell remaynyng all that season in Vvalys Iohan Hus suffred death at Constaunce the yeare of oure Lorde a M. CCCC.xv in Iulye Hierome of Prage in the yeare of oure Lorde a M. cccc.xvi in Maye which were the two heades he speaketh of Syr Rogeâ— ActoÌ„ was brent with his companye in the yeare of oure Lorde a M. CCCC.xiii in Ianuarye as wytnesseth Vvalden Fabiane and Iohan Maior in theyr chronycles and wrytynges Now recken these nombers and years and marke the propre conueyaunce of this Romyshe gentylman the popes collectour to clought vp that croked kyngedom of theyrs He can by soche legerdemayne both please his fryndes in Englande and also at Rome After that he foloweth with lye vpon lye as that they came than to London to destroye the kynge that he in his owne persone mett with them there in armes that they cowardlye fledde that some were taken there and brent out of hande and that the lorde Cobham and syr Roger Acâ—on were cast into y e tower of London vpon that occasyon Semeth it not a matter somwhat lyke to the purpose thynke you that menne shulde be there burned for makynge soche an insurreccyon or tumult I trowe he hath cobled here somwhat workemanlye And where as he sayth in the ende that the kynge thervpon made an acte that they from thens forth shuld be taken as traytours agaynste his owne persone w c were proued to folowe that secte he maketh an abhomynable lye For that â—cte was made onlye at the Bisshoppes complaynte and false sute in the fyrst yeare of his regne and by force of that acte those innoceÌ„t menne than suffred More than .iiii. hondreth of soche manyfestlyes coude I gather out of his chronycles moche more than myght more eyes and iudgementes do Now lete vs expende what the true cause shuld be of this godlye mannys condemnacyon and death all dreames of Papistes sett a part The truthe of it is that after he had ones throughlye tasted the Christen doctryne of Iohan Vvycleue and of his disciples and perseyued theyr lyuynges aggreable to the same He abhorred all the supersticyouse sorceryes ceremonyes I shuld saye of the proude Romyshe churche Fâ—oâ— thens forth he brought all thynges to the towche stone of Gods worde He tryed all matters by the scripturs and so proued theyr spretes whether they were of God or naye He maynteyned soche preachers in the dyoceses of CauÌ„terburye London Rochestre and Herforde as the Bysshoppes were sore offended with He exhorted theyr prestes to a better waye by the Gospell and whan that wolde not helpe he gaue theÌ„ sharpe rebukes He admonyshed thâ— kynges as Rycharde the seconde Henrye the fourth and Henrye the fyft of the clergyes manyfolde abuses put into the parlement house certen bokes concernynge theyr iust reformacyon both in the yeare of oure Lorde a M.ccc xcv and in the yeare a M. CCCC.x of the fyrst boke this is the begynnyng Prima conclusio Quando ecclesia Anglie c. which I haue here left out least this treatyse shuld be to great The other boke was made by one Iohan Puruey a mastre of art of Oxforde Besyde the .xviii. conclusions that mastre Iohan Vvycleue had put in longe afore that In the yeare of oure Lorde a M.ccc â—â—i this noble lorde Cobham with certen other more mocyoned the kynge at Vvestmynsâ—re in the tyme of his parlement that it were verye commodyouse to Englande yf the Romyshe Bysshoppes auctorite extended no forther than the Occeane see or hauen of Calys coÌ„syderynge the charges and vnquyetnesse of sutes there and that mennys causes condâ— not be throughlye knowen so farre of Vvher vpon the kynge made this acte by consent of his lordes that no manne from thens forth shuld sue to the Pope in anye matter nor publyshe anye excommunicacyon of his vndrepeyne of losynge theyr goodes with perpetuall inpresonmeÌ„t This and the afore named boke had cost him with syr Iohan Chenye and other
A brefe Chronycle concernynge the Examinacyon and death of the blessed martyr of Christ syr Iohan Oldecastell the lorde Codham collected togyther by Iohan Bale ☞ Syr. Iohan. Oldecastel the. worthy ☜ lorde Cobham and â–ª moste valyaunt ☞ warryoure of Iesus Christ. ☜ suffred death at London Anno. 1418. ☞ In the latter tyme shall manye be chosen proued and puryfyed by 〈◊〉 yet shall the vngodly lyue wyckedly 〈◊〉 and haue no vnderstandynge Dan. 〈◊〉 A brefe Chronycle concernynge the Examinacyon and death of the blessed martyr of Christ syr Iohan Oldecastell the lorde Cobham collected togyther by Iohan Bale out of the bokes and writtynges of those Popyshe Prelates which were present both at his condempnacyon and iudgement ¶ The Preface IN the prophane historyes of olde Oratours and poetes both Grekes and Latynes are they moche coÌ„mended and thought worthy of eternall memorye which haue eyther dyed for theyr naturall contreye or daungered theyr lyues for a common welthe As we reade of Codrus that was kynge of Athens of Quintus Curcius the Romane of Ancurus the Phrygiane Olysses Hermas Theseus Menecius Scipio Aphricanus Mucius Scenoâ—a Valerius Cocles the two bretheren of Cartago which were both called Philenus and the thre noble Decyanes with other diuerse In the sacred scripturs of the Byble hath Moses Iosue Gedeon Iepthe Delbora Iudith Dauid Helias Iosias zorobabel Mathathias Eleazarus and the Machabees theyr iust prayses for theyr myghtye zele and manyfolde enterpryses concernynge the chyldren of Israel Amonge the Papistes also which are a most prodygyouse kynde of menne are they most hyghlye anaunced by lyenge sygnes false myracles erronyouse writtynges shrynes rellyques lyghtes tabernacles aulters sensynges songes holye dayes which haue bene slayne for the lybertees priuileges auctorite honour ryches proude mayntenaunce of theyr holye whorysse churche As were Antidius Bonifacius Benno Thomas Becket Iohan the Cardinall Petrê° de Castronoâ—o Peter of Millayne Paganus of Bergom Stanislaus of Cracouâ—a Steuen Colyer of Tholose Bonauenture of Padua Iulianus the Cardinall of saynt Angel And in oure tyme Iohan Fysher Thomas More Fryre Forest Reynoldes the Charterhouse monkes which suffred here in Englande with an infynite nombre more Vvhat is than to be thought of those godlye and valeaunt warryours which hath noth spared to bestowe theyr most dere lyues for the veryte of Iesus Christ agaynst the malygnauÌ„t mustre of that execrable Antichrist of Rome the deuyls owne vycar Of whose gracyouse nombre a verye specyall membre and a vessell of Gods eleccyon was that vertuouse knyght syr Iohan Oldecastell the good lorde Cobham as will plentuously apere in this processe folowynge He that hath iudgemeÌ„t in the sprete shall easelye perseyue by this treatyse what beastlye blockeheades these bloudye bellyegoddes were in theyr vnsauerye interrogacyoÌ„s and agayne what influence of grace this manne of God had from aboue coÌ„cernynge his answers specyallye in that most blynde and ignoraunt tyme wherin all was but darkenesse the sunne aperynge sacke clothe as saynct Iohan hath in the Apocalyps Most surelye fulfylled Christ that promes in him which he made to his Apostles Cast not in youre myndes afore hande sayth he what answere ye shall make whan these spirituall tyrauntes shall examine you in theyr synagoges and so delyuer you vp vnto kynges and debytees For I will geue you soche vtteraunce and wysdome in that houre as all your ennemyes shall neuer be able to resyst This onlye sentence of Christ adioyned to his godly answere is ynough to proue him his true disciple and them in theyr folyshe questyons the manyfest members of sathan I remembre that .xiiii. yeares ago the true seruaunt of God Vvillyam Tyndale put into the prent a certen brefe examinacyon of the seyd lorde Cobham The which examinacyon was wrytten in the tyme of the seyd lordes troble by a certen frynde of his and so reserued in copyes vnto this our age But sens that tyme I haue fouÌ„de it in theyr owne wrytynges which were than his vttre enemyes in a moche more ample fourme than there Specyallye in the great processe which Thomas Arundell the Archebysshop of Caunterburye made than agaynst him wrytten by his owne notaryes and clarâ—â—â— tokened also with his owne sygne and scale and so dyrected vnto Rycharde Clyfforde than Bysshop of London with a generall coÌ„maundement to haue it than publyshed by him by the other Bysshoppes the whole realme ouer Forthermore I haue seane it in a copye of that wrytynge which the seyd Rycharde Clyfforde sent vnto Robert Mascall a Carmelyte fryre and Bysshop of Herforde vndre his sygne and seale and in a copye of his also dyrected to the Archedeacons of Herforde and Shrewesburye The yeare moneth and daye of theyr date with the beginnynges of theyr wrytynges shall here after folowe in the boke as occasyon shall requyre it Besydes all this Thomas Vvalden beynge in those dayes the kynges confessour and present at his examinacyon condempnacyon execracyon regestred it amonge other processes more in his boke called Fasciculus zizaniorum Vvicleui He maketh mencyon of it also in his fyrst Epistle to Pope Martyne the fyft and in his solempne sermon de funere regis Onlye soche reasons haue I added therunto as the afore named Thomas Vvalden proponed to him in the tyme of that examinacyon as he meÌ„cyoneth in his fyrst and seconde bokes aduersus Vhiâ—â—uâ—stas with the maner of his godlye departynge out of this frayle lyfe which I founde in other wrytynges and chronicles His youthe was full of wanton wildenesse before he knew y e scripturs as he reporteth in his answere and for the more part vnknowen vnto me and therfore I wryte it not here His father the lorde Regnolde of Cobham Iohan Frosyart nombereth alwayes amongest the most worthye warryours of Englande In all adueÌ„terouse actes of wordlye manhode was he euer bolde stronge fortunate doughtye noble valcauÌ„t But neuer so worthye a conquerour as in this his present conflyct with the cruell and furyouse frantyck kyngedome of Antichrist Farre is this Christen knyght more prayse worthye for that he had so noble a stomake in defence of Christes verite agaynst those Romyshe superticyons than for anye temporall nobylnesse eyther of bloude byrthe landes or of marcyall feates For manye thousandes hath had in that great corrage which in the other haue bene most faynt harted cowardes and verye desperate dastardes where as he perseuered most faythfullye constaunt to the ende Manye Popyshe parasytes menne pleasynge flatterers haue written large commendacyoÌ„s and encomyes of those but of soche noble menne as this was verye fewe or in a maner non at all Vvan I somtyme reade the workes of some menne lerned I maruele not a lytle to se them so abundaunt in vayne flatterynge prayses for matters of no value yea for thynges to be dyspraysed rather than praysed of menne that were
godlye disciples left that good manne behynde him to defende the lowlynesse of y e Gospell agaynst the exceadynge pryde ambycyon symâ—nye anaryce hypocresye whoredome sacrylege tyrannye ydolatrouse worshyppynges and other fylthye frutes of those styfnecked Pharysees Agaynst whom Thomas Arundell than Archebysshop of Caunterburye so ferce as euer was Pharao Antiochus Herodes or Cayphas collected in Paules churche at London a vniuersall synode of all the papystycall clergye of Englande in the yeare of oure Lorde a M. CCCC and .xiii. as he had done dyuerse other afore to withstande theyr most godlye enterpryse And this was the fyrst yeare of kynge Henrye the fyft whom they had than made fyt for theyr hande As these hygh Prelates with theyr Pharysees and Scrybes were thus gathered in this pestilent counsell against the Lorde and his worde fyrst there resorted vnto them the .xii. inquysytours of heresyes whom they had appoynted at Oxforde the yeare afore to serche out heretyques with all Vvycleues bokes and they brought CC. and .lxvi. faythfull conclusyons whom they had collected as heresyes out of the seyd bokes The names of the seyd inquysytours were these Iohan Vvitnam a masâ—râ— in the newe college Iohan Langedon monke of Chry churche in Caunterbâ—rye Vvillyam Vfforde regent of the Carmelytes Thomas Clayton regent of the Dominykes Robert Gylberâ— Rycharde Cartysdale Iohan Luclâ—e Rycharde Snedysham Rycharde Flemâ—mynge Thomas Rodborne Robâ—rt Roadberye and Rycharde Grasdale In the meane season caused they ther hyred seruauÌ„tes to blowe it forth a brodâ— through out all the realme that they were there congregate for an wholsom â—nyte and reformacyon of the churche of Englande to stoppe so the mouthes of the coÌ„mon people Soche is alwayes the coÌ„mon practyse of these subtyle sorcerers whyls they are in doynge myschefe to blere the eyes of the vnlerned multitude with one false craft or other After a certen communicacyon they concluded amonge themselues that yt was not possyble for them to make whole Christes cote without seme meanynge therby theyr patched Popyshe synagoge vnlesse certen great menne were brought out of the waye which semed to be the chefe maynteners of the seyd disciples of Vvycleue Amonge whom the most noble knyght syr Iohan Oldecastell the lorde Cobham was complayned of by the generall proctours yea rather betrayers of Christ in his faythfull members to be y e chefe principall Him they accused fyrst for a myghtye mayntener of suspected preachers in y e dyoceses of London Rochestre Herforde contrarye to the myndes of theyr ordynaryes Not onlye they affermed him to haue sent thyder the seyd preachers but also to haue assysted them there by force of armes not withstandynge theyr synodall constitucyon made afore to the coÌ„trarye Last of all they accused him that he was farre otherwyse in beleue of the sacrament of the aultre of penaunce of pylgrymage of ymage worshyppynge and of the ecclesyastycall power than the holye churche of Rome had taught manye years afore In the ende yt was concluded amonge them that without anye farther delaye processe shuld out agaynst him as agaynst a most pernycyouse heretyque Some of that felyshyp which were of more craftye experieÌ„ce than the other wolde in no case haue y e matter so rashlye handeled but thought this waye moche better Consyderynge the seyd lorde Cobham was a manne of great byrthe and in fauer at that tyme with the kynge theyr counsell was to knowe fyrst the kynges mynde to saue all thynges ryght vp This counsell was wele accepted and thervpon the Archebysshop Thomas Arundell with his other Bysshoppes and a great part of the clergye went strayght wayes vnto the kynge as than remaynynge at kenyngton And there they layed forth most grenouse complayntes agaynst the seyd lorde Cobham to his great infamye and blemyshe beynge a manne most godlye The kynge gentyllye harde those bloud thurstye rauenours farre otherwyse than became his princelye dignite he insâ—auÌ„tlye desyred them that in respect of his noble stocke and knyghthode they shulde yet fauorablye deale with him And that they wolde yf yt were possyble without all rygour or extreme handelynge reduce him agayne to the churches vnyte He promysed them also that in case they were contented to take some delyberacyon his selfe wolde seryouslye common the matter with him Anon after the kynge sent for the seyd lorde Cobham And as he was come he called him secretlye admonyshyng him betwixt him and him to submyt himsâ—lfe to his mother the holye churche and as an obedyent chylde to acknowledge himselfe culpable vnto whom the Christen knyght made this answere yow most worthye prince sayth heâ— am I alwayes prompt and willynge to obeye for so moche as I knowe you a Christen kynge and the appoynted minystre of God bearyng his ryghtuouse swerde to the ponnyshment of yll doers and for the sauegarde of them that be vertuouse Vnto you next my eternall lyuynge God owe I my whole obedience and submyt me therunto as I haue done euer all that I haue eyther of fortune or nature redye at all tymes to fulfyll what so euer ye shall in that lorde commaunde me But as touchynge the Pope and his spiritualte trulye I owe theÌ„ neyther sure nor seruyce for so moche as I knowe him by the scripturs to be the great Antichrist the sonne of perdicyon the open aduersarye of God and the abhominacyon standynge in the holye place Vvhan the kynge had hearde this with soche lyke sentences more he wolde talke no longar with him but left him so vtterlye And as the Archebysshop resorted agayne vnto him for an answere he gaue him his full auctorite to cyte him examyne him and ponnyshe him accordynge to the deuylyshe decrees which they call the lawes of holye churche Than the seyd Archebyshop by the couÌ„sell of his other Bysshoppes and clergye appoynted to call before him y e seyd syr Iohan Oldecastell the lorde Cobham and to cause him personallye to apere to answere to soche suspected artycles as they shuld laye agaynst him So sent he forth his chefe sommener with a verye sharpe cytacyon vnto the castell of Cowlynge where as he at that tyme dwelt for his solace And as y e seyd sommener was thyder coÌ„men he durst in no case entre the gates of so noble a manne without his lycens and therfore he returned home agayne his massage not done Than called the Archebysshop one Iohan Butler vnto him which was than the dorekeper of the kynges preuye chambre with him he couenaunted through promyses and rewardes to haue this matter craftelye brought to passe vndre y e kynges name Vvhervpon the seyd Iohan Butler toke the Archebysshoppes sommener with him and went vnto the seyd lorde Cobham shewynge him that it was the kynges pleasure that he shuld obeye that cytacyon and so cyted him frawde lentlye Than sayd he vnto them in fewe wordes that in no case wolde
more his lyfe in the sixt yeare after at the craftye accusement of certen Prelates though it hath in the chronycles an other colour had not God than most gracyously preserued him An other cause of his death yet besydes all that hath bene sayd afore was this He caused all the workes of Iohan Vvycleue to be written at the instaunce of Iohan huss and so to be sent into Boheme Fraunce Spayne Portyngale and other landes Vvherof Subinco Lepus the Archebysshop of Prage caused more than two hondreth volumes fayre wrytten openlye to be brent afterwarde as wytnesseth Aeneas Siluius de origine Bohemorum These causes knowen with other more that I coude reherse consydre whether the worlde that is alwayes so wycked was worthye to holde soche a noble christen warryour as this was or naye Consydre also the iust ponnyshment of the lorde for wycked lawes that were than made with the exceadynge myscheues that the spiritualte than vsed And waye the myserable estate that the realme was in sone after for contempt of his eternall worde And there vpon lawde his ryghtousnesse and beware of lyke coÌ„tempt and plage in these dayes In the yeare of oure Lorde a M. cccc xxii departed kynge Henry the fyft in his most floryshynge tyme euen in the begynnyng of the .xxxvii. yeare of his age which was abought .iiii. years after the death of this lorde Cobham His sonne Henry the sixt succeded in his rome and had the gouernaunce of this whole realme beynge but a babe of viiâ— monethes olde and odde dayes Vvhat a doloure was this vnto menne of rype difcressyon naturally louynge theyr coÌ„tre and regardynge the common welthe therof yea what a plage of God was it after the scripturs to haue a yonge chylde to theyr kynge And that it shuld the more manyfestlye apere to come that waye or of the stroke of God he was a chyldyshe thynge all y e dayes of his lyfe I shall geue you sayth the lorde in his hygh dyspleasure chyldren to be youre princes yonge infauntes with out wysdome shall haue the gouernaunce of you Wvhat wretched calamytees the realme suffred afterwarde for the space of more than .iii. score years and thre tyll the dayes of kynge Henry the seuenth yt is vnspeakable Sens the preachynge of Iohan Vvycleue hath the lorde suffred the pompouse Popyshe Prelates to shewe themselues forth in theyr owne ryght colours that they myght now in the lyght of his Gospell apere as they are in dede euen spyghtfull murtherers ydolaters and Sodomytes Afore his tyme they lurked vndre the glytterynge shyne of hypocrefye and coude not be seane in theyr mastryes The fryers with theyr charmynge sophysirye threwe soche a darke myst ouer the vniuersall worlde that superstycyon coude not be knowen for superstycyon nor ydolatrye for ydolatrye Vnspeakable fylthynesse of all fleshlye occupyenge was than called Prestes chastyte as yt is yet and will be tyll yt come to the hyghest that God maye take full vengeaunce Than was whoredome worshypped in Prelates of the churche and sacred wedlock rekened soche a detestable vyce as was worthye in a prest most cruell death As was seane for example in syr Vvillyam Vvyghe which was brent for the same at Norwych in the yeare of oure Lorde 14.28 Thus was Vvhyght iudged blacke and lyght darkenesse so ylâ— was meÌ„ a syght in those dayes By soche meanes sayth the Prophete they drewe wyckednesse vnto them as yt were with a corde and all kyndes of synne as yt were with a cart rope If Englande at that tyme had not bene vnthankefull for the syngular benefyght that God than sent them by those good meÌ„ne the dayes of Antichrist and his beastlye broode had bene shortened there longe a go as yt is euen now here after lyke to be more largelye A most oryent fresshe myrrour of Christen manhode apereth this worthye lorde Cobham in our age the veryte now open which was in herabsens a lampe of contempt before wordlye wyse menne In him maye noble menne beholde here playnelye a wolâ— noble stomake and precyouse fayth in the myddes of great Antichristes modye mustre His corage was of soche vaâ—â—e that yt gaue him the victorye ouer them by the clere iudgement of the scripturs what though the worldes iudgementes be farre otherwyse And as for the cruell death which he most contumelyouslye suffred yt is now vnto him a most plentuouse wynnynge for in the iust quarell was yt of his Lorde Iesus Christ. Myght those bloudye blusterers haue had theyr full swaye now of late they wolde haue made more Oldecastels Actons Brownes Beuerlayes yea they wolde haue made there a greatter hauocke vpon Christes congregacyon than euer ded Saul in his ragynge furye They ment more than they vttered whan they approched so nygh as ded cruell Haman to the presence of noble Assuerus But blessed be the eternall father which hath geuen soche wysdome godlye vnto oure most worthye kynge that he perseyuynge theyr slayghtes so abated theyr tyraÌ„nouse fercenes Praye noble menne praye yea with the true clergye and commons that lyke as he hath now with duke Iosue the ouerhande of wycked Hierico by his onlye gyft and is through that becomen an whole perfyght kynge within his ownâ— realme farre aboue all his predecessours so that he maye in conclusyon ouerthrowe her clerelye For as yet the dredefull damsell tyrannye that was Cayphas dorekeper dwelleth in the howses of Byshoppes and dalye compelleth poore Peter to denye his mastre As manye eyes as euer had vygylaunt Argus had he nede to haue that is compassed with soche a sort as are that broode of the wylye serpent Consydre what heauenlye thynges ye haue receyued of the scripturs vndre his permyssyon and yet praye ones agayne for his gracyouse contynuaunce to the more increase of knowledge Amen O Babylon thy merchauÌ„tes were princes of the earth And with thyne inchauÌ„tementes were all nacyons deceyued Apocal. xviii ☞ The great processe of Thomas Arundell the Archebysshop of Caunterburye and of the Papisticall clergye w t him agaynst the most noble knyght syr Iohan Oldecastell the lorde Cobham in the yeare of oure Lorde a. M. cccc and .xlii. wherin is coÌ„tayned his examinacyon impresonmeÌ„t and excommunycacyon The processe before his examinacyon AFter that y e true seruauÌ„t of Iesus Christ Iohan Vvycleue a maÌ„ne of verye excellent lyfe lernynge had for the space of more than .xxvi. years most valeauntlye batteled with the great Antichrist of Europa or Pope of Rome his dyuerslye dysgysed host of anoynted hypocrytes to restore the churche agayne to the pure estate that Christ left her in at his ascensyon he departed hens most Christenlye into the handes of God the yeare of oure Lorde a M.CCC.lxxxvii and was buryed in his owne parryshe churche at Lutterworth in Lyncolne shere No small nombre of